WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Three new studies on soy products have
found renewed evidence that soy intake can help protect against prostate
cancer, breast cancer and osteoporosis, among other diseases.
    At the University of Cincinnati, researchers report positive implications
for soy in their search to find therapy for reducing risk of cardiovascular
disease and osteoporosis in post-menopausal women.
    Because hormone replacement therapy includes "perceived risks and unwanted
side effects from these relatively potent estrogens," the University of
Cincinnati College of Medicine team said, isoflavones, natural compounds found
in soybeans and soy products, are increasingly seen as "natural forms of
estrogen replacement."
    "Phytoestrogens such as isoflavones, which are abundant in most soy foods
or can be obtained as supplements, are being investigated for their potential
to fill this niche," the Cincinnati team reported.
    Meanwhile, in Sweden and Finland, a group of scientists at the University
of Helsinki and the University of Umea in Sweden found that phytoestrogens
such as isoflavones may "prevent prostate cancer by inhibiting growth during
the promotional phase of the disease."
    The Scandinavian team asserted that, "this could be the reason for the
relatively high incidence of latent prostate cancer but low mortality in this
disease in Japan."
    "Soybeans and soy products are the main sources of isoflavones," the
Finnish and Swedish researchers reported. They said their studies have led
them to conclude that "isoflavone-containing foods may be protective with
regard to prostate cancer."
    At the University of Southern California, a research team reported: "There
is suggestive epidemiologic evidence that soy intake may protect against
breast cancer."
    In a seven-month study of 20 women, it was determined that test subjects
of a "soy intervention study" benefited from "daily intake of Asian soy foods
-- tofu, soy milk and soybean peas."
    The three studies were made public this month by the U.S. Soyfoods
Directory, sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Board, following presentation at a
soy symposium.
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    (Foods for the Future provides factual information to the media concerning
food products, health and nutrition.  It is a project of the T. Dean Reed
Company and is supported by U.S. agribusiness.)

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